100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full? Chapter 550 - Preparations

A period of a few more months elapsed.

Lucien attained the age of twenty-six.

Throughout these intervening months, Lucien and Seran ventured back into the void.

Seran had diligently studied the second hidden world, previously discovered under goblin control.

This undertaking required a greater duration this time.

The goblins had, it seemed, learned from their previous encounters.

Unfortunately for them, Seran was far from ordinary.

And to the detriment of all involved, Lucien found himself keenly interested.

The instant Seran finished the charting of the world, they initiated their move.

Entry into this world proved more arduous than the preceding one.

And upon breaching the sealed perimeter, Lucien readily grasped the reason why.

The goblins had made preparations.

Three Covenant-Breaker clones stood ready within.

The goblins had not merely stood guard over the location.

They had fortified their act of thievery.

The moment Lucien and Seran materialized, the entire world seemed to awaken.

The three Covenant-Breakers launched their assault with the ferocity of those who had been waiting, knives pressed against the very throat of destiny.

Then the world erupted into chaos.

This battle was distinctly different from their first engagement.

There was no leisure for games. No room for the careful preservation of enemies to serve as future dungeon batteries.

The three Covenant-Breakers exhibited terrifyingly precise coordination, each one expertly covering the blind spots of the others.

For a brief moment, even Seran ceased his jesting for more than a few breaths.

Lucien took note and nearly offered a remark.

Then, a Covenant-Breaker attempted to collapse the space behind his heart via a delayed curse-anchor, and Lucien resolved that conversation could indeed wait.

The ensuing fight descended into sheer brutality.

Lucien and Seran emerged victorious because, as a pair, they were simply more formidable.

The three Covenant-Breakers possessed considerable strength.

However, they harbored a critical flaw.

They remained, fundamentally, clones.

And Lucien already possessed intimate knowledge of their preferred methods of demise.

By the time the conflict concluded, the world lay in utter ruin.

Myriads of monsters had perished. Every single Covenant-Breaker clone had been annihilated. Towers sagged at broken, unnatural angles.

There were no dungeon batteries to be found.

That was the unfortunate consequence.

The intensity of the battle had been too extreme. Mercy necessitates a certain margin, and insufficient room had been afforded.

Everything met its end.

What was worse, none of the Covenant-Breaker clones had been carrying an Origin Core fragment.

Lucien stood amidst the desolate landscape and clicked his tongue.

"A cunning bastard."

Seran moved to his side, attempting to wipe a streak of blackened blood from his sleeve.

"It adapted."

"Enough so to conceal the fragments away from its lesser selves."

"That implies the subsequent encounter will be significantly more challenging."

Lucien gazed towards the core of the world, where the bark of the Tree of Creation lay concealed beneath layers of devastated fortifications.

"Indeed."

Then, a smile touched his lips.

"But this one belongs to us now."

Seran let out a chuckle.

"That's the spirit."

•••

The conflict had still proven lucrative.

Following the battle, they divided the accumulated monster organ stores equally.

The loot drops were also largely comparable to their previous engagement.

The bark was the next objective.

Lucien approached it alone, with Seran remaining a respectful distance behind him.

Neither shared any jests at that particular moment.

Certain matters warrant a solemn atmosphere.

Lucien extended his hand and touched the bark.

It unfurled.

Intricate strings and pronouncements surged forth from it in a radiant torrent of living light. They propelled themselves towards him, penetrated his conceptual space, and plunged directly into the nascent Tree of Creation rooted above his Divine Energy Core.

The tree began to absorb the essence.

Its roots expanded their reach.

Its central trunk gained girth.

Its branches stretched out further still.

For one fleeting, improbable instant, Lucien experienced a profound sense that the tree existed not merely within him.

It was, in fact, recalling its own nature through him.

Then, the imparted knowledge arrived.

The Tree unveiled worlds that predated any designation. Stars that had not yet ignited. The initial schism between utter void and tangible existence. The very first instance of existence refusing to remain quiescent.

Lucien entered a state of deep meditation.

...

Days elapsed.

His physical form remained immobile, but internally, the young Tree of Creation continued to nourish him with truths, delivered in manageable fragments.

When Lucien finally opened his eyes, his aura had undergone a palpable transformation.

He had reached the Ninth Stage of the Celestial Realm.

With only a minor advancement remaining, he could commence preparations for the Eternal realm.

Seran observed him and emitted a shake of his head.

"You are truly incomprehensible."

Lucien offered a slow blink.

"I merely awoke."

"Yes. And achieved the Ninth Stage in the process."

Lucien considered this statement.

Then, he broke into a smile.

"The bark proved quite beneficial."

"That is an egregious understatement."

Lucien slowly rose to his feet.

He could perceive the tangible difference within himself.

The bark represented a shortcut to advancement, certainly.

But it was not a superficial one.

It did not merely grant him raw power. Instead, it expanded the very vessel that enabled him to contain greater power without fracturing.

That, he recognized, was far more valuable.

He pondered the potential outcome if he were to gather a sufficient quantity of these barks.

Would the nascent tree mature fully?

Would it regain its status as a true Tree of Creation?

Would his Evolving Constitution adapt to such complete restoration?

Could he attain a pinnacle that even his current self could scarcely fathom?

Lucien cast his gaze back towards the desolate world lying behind them.

Then, he let out a sigh.

"Another reason for the goblins to despise me."

Seran's smile widened.

"I believe they already possessed ample reasons."

"A fair assessment."

Following that, they intentionally took a detour to a nearby Echo Zone. This detour was decided as the most reasonable course of action after successfully conquering a goblin-occupied world and acquiring another bark of creation; both individuals deemed fishing for void monsters a fitting next step. Their excursion concluded with them returning with more dungeon batteries. While not as many as Lucien had hoped for, the quantity exceeded what any sensible person would consider a casual haul, which was deemed sufficient.

•••

Upon Lucien's eventual return to Lootwell, another piece of welcome news awaited him: Seraphine had ascended to the Eternal Realm. This time, Lucien was determined not to repeat any previous missteps and ensured he was thoroughly prepared. His preparation involved the crafting of a ring, and subsequently, as a single ring felt insufficient, he crafted a pair. One ring was intended for Seraphine, and the other for himself. He bestowed the name 'Remedy Twinlink' upon this pair of rings.

At first glance, the rings possessed a simple appearance. However, beneath this unassuming exterior lay arrays layered with a complexity surpassing many treasures found within a sect. The rings were designed to function as communication devices, but with enhanced capabilities. They did more than simply transmit voice; they could project a clear image of the wearer to their paired counterpart, enabling face-to-face conversations even across vast continental distances, provided the network connection remained stable. This meant Seraphine could contact him directly, and Lucien could respond just as directly. This feature alone would have brought her satisfaction.

Yet, Lucien's creation did not stop there. He meticulously integrated several additional effects into the rings. The first was the 'Mind-Cleansing Pulse,' a function that would gently alleviate intrusive strain, dissipate accumulated mental fog, and ward off foreign influences that might hinder her judgment during extended periods of work. The second was the 'Memory Lattice,' designed to enhance recall, organize medical observations, and aid in the preservation of complex diagnostic impressions without causing mental fatigue. The third was 'Remedy Resonance.' When Seraphine utilized her Law of Remedy, this effect would stabilize the flow of her law and assist in aligning treatment sequences, thereby smoothing delicate healing processes. The fourth was the 'Failure Archive.' This was a feature Lucien anticipated she would greatly appreciate. If an experiment met with failure while the ring was active, it could meticulously record the lawful pattern of the failure, allowing Seraphine to later review the unsuccessful process without being solely reliant on memory. The fifth was 'Paired Anchor.' Should either ring detect a life-threatening danger and the other wearer granted permission, it could transmit an emergency pulse through the link.

Lucien scrutinized these effects for a considerable duration before nodding and murmuring, "Good." However, the ring itself was not the ultimate gift. The true present was concealed within. The ring also incorporated a high-grade storage space. Lucien engineered this space to mimic a portion of his system Inventory's preservation logic. Within this space, time would effectively stand still, ensuring that medicines, herbs, volatile extracts, organs, experimental samples, and rare ingredients would maintain their freshness indefinitely. For a practitioner of medicine like Seraphine, this was an invaluable asset.

Even this remarkable feature was not the pinnacle of the gift. Sealed within a small case at the very center of the storage space lay a skill card. When Lucien presented the ring to Seraphine, she initially regarded it with amusement. "You've learned," she commented. Lucien stood with utmost rectitude, stating, "I value my common sense." She offered a smile and accepted the ring. Upon sensing its contents, her expression underwent a significant change. She opened the storage space, retrieved the sealed case, and her hand began to tremble as she beheld the card. For the first time in a long while, Seraphine's hand quivered. Lucien observed her quietly. She read the name inscribed on the card: 'Structural Insight.'

Seraphine remained silent for a moment. Her eyes widened, then softened, a fleeting vulnerability crossing her features before she could mask it. Lucien felt a tightening in his chest. "I finally managed to create one after a considerable time," he explained. "Borrowing from mine aided in the process, but it's an incomplete rendition." Seraphine looked up at him. For once, her eyes held no trace of teasing, only a profound, genuine joy, and an emotion dangerously close to tears. "Luc," she said softly. He smiled. "Congratulations on reaching Eternal, Sera." That was sufficient.

She immediately learned the card. The instant 'Structural Insight' integrated into her being, her gaze transformed. Her perception sharpened dramatically. Her comprehension of bodies, vessels, pathways, law-inflicted damage, medicine, and internal structures expanded with such rapidity that even Lucien sensed a palpable adjustment in the atmosphere surrounding her. Seraphine closed her eyes, and upon reopening them, she regarded him with an expression he had come to both fear and cherish in equal measure. She then moved closer. Lucien blinked in surprise. "Sera?" he inquired. She took his hand, her fingers tightening their grip. "Come with me."

The ensuing night taught Lucien a significant lesson: the stamina associated with the Eternal Realm was not a mere theoretical concept but a tangible battlefield. Seraphine was profoundly grateful and, to Lucien's experience, exceedingly passionate. Lucien survived the ordeal.

The following morning, he remained still for a period, gazing at the ceiling with the contemplative solemnity of a man who had simultaneously achieved victory and suffered a profound loss. Seraphine, resting beside him, appeared deeply content. Lucien slowly turned his head. "This is happy exhaustion," he declared, before closing his eyes. A win-win situation.

•••

Beyond personal affairs, Lootwell meticulously planned its expansion, aiming to extend its reach far beyond the West Continent. The production lines for communication devices saw another surge, and with them, the output of automatons escalated. Lucien was determined to have every aspect prepared for the impending grand expansion. ... One day, the elemental women made their way to him. Lucien observed the four of them, his expression questioning. "What is amiss?" Marie was the first to respond. "We find ourselves at an impasse." Lucien's demeanor shifted. For some time now, all four had remained stationary at the Ninth Stage of the Celestial Realm. While this would have been an extraordinary feat for any common power, within Lootwell's current advanced standing, it had started to feel like an insurmountable barrier. Kaia spoke next. "Sister Lilith has attained Eternal. Sister Seraphine has also reached Eternal. The others are rapidly closing the gap. We have diligently trained, meditated, and refined our very foundations." Sylra added softly, "Yet, the final threshold refuses to open for us." Marina, puffing her cheeks, declared, "I detest this feeling." Lucien nearly let a smile escape but managed to restrain himself. This was no trivial matter to them. Their feelings were not born from petty jealousy but from genuine frustration. They yearned to stand alongside him, not perpetually behind. Their desire was for their own profound breakthroughs, their unique paths, and their own answers to the mysteries of existence. Lucien leaned forward slightly. "And so?" Marie glanced at the other three before returning her gaze to him. "We wish to journey to the special location the system has indicated for us." Lucien froze. The system's special locations. He hadn't forgotten about these unique destinations. For those who bore the title of Liberators, these special locations were typically distinct and personal. Lucien's eyes narrowed. "Each of you received a unique location?" Kaia nodded, then quickly shook her head. Sylra looked him directly in the eye and stated, "It is the very same place for all of us." Lucien fell silent. Seran had previously informed him that these special locations were generally different for each individual. The fact that all four elemental women were being guided to the same place suggested something significant. Connection. Lucien observed them with renewed intensity. Marie, Kaia, Sylra, and Marina. Earth. Fire. Wind. Water. Some intrinsic force bound them together, perhaps something far more ancient than they themselves comprehended. A sense of curiosity began to stir within Lucien, quickly followed by a wave of caution. "Did the system offer any further details?" Marina shook her head. "Only the location." Kaia added, "And a distinct feeling, a certainty that if we wish to progress further, this is where we must go." Marie's expression turned resolute. "I do not enjoy being stalled, Luc." Lucien understood completely. Reaching a bottleneck at the cusp of the Eternal realm was a critical juncture. Pursuing an incorrect method could irrevocably damage their foundations. Conversely, waiting indefinitely could allow frustration to fester and erode their resolve into self-doubt. A special location shared by all four might present unforeseen dangers. However, it could also be precisely the catalyst they desperately needed. Lucien leaned back in his seat. A smile then touched his lips. "I wish to accompany you." All four women looked at him simultaneously. Marina grinned. "With you beside us, we can surely cause more trouble, and safely so." Lucien gave her a deadpan look. "That is hardly the reason I intend to join." Marina nodded with utmost seriousness. "My prince, I shall endeavor to be exceedingly well-behaved." Lucien chuckled, and the other women joined in with laughter, their mirth momentarily lifting the heavy tension. Then, Lucien's expression grew serious once more. "Prepare yourselves thoroughly. If all four of you are being summoned to the same destination, it is undoubtedly an extraordinary circumstance." The women nodded in agreement.